Heat interchanger



Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED sTArlazsY PATENT FFICE` 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a heat interchanger. Y Y

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide an improved heat interchanging device, and more particularly a device for `heating fluids, such as air, gas and vapor, by utilizing a hot exhaust iiuid which is normally wasted, as for example the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.

Another object is to provide a heat interchanging device which is 4especially adapted for use with my compressed air power unit, whereby the moistened'and compressed air is highly heated by the otherwise wasted exhaust gases, so as to l5 greatly increase the pressure and working force in the compressed air and likewise the power output produced thereby.

A further object is to provide such a heat interchanging device which not only heats but also preheats and superheats the compressed air by the use of theV exhaust gases of the engine,so as to utilize the normally wasted heat energy thereof to the fullest extent.

These and various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the `accompanying drawing, in which the invention is illustrated in its preferred form of construction, it being understood that various other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating this invention in its preferred form of construction.

Figs. 2 and Bare vertical sectional views taken, respectively, along lines 2 2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1.

' In disclosing this invention I haver illustrated it in the drawing only in its preferred form of construction, which comprises a main heating chamber I@ having a preliminary heating chamber or preheater II extending laterally from one end thereof, and a superheating chamber or superheater I2 extending forwardly from the other end of the main chamber. Y

`The main chamber l!) is preferably box-shaped or tube-shaped, containing a series of baille plates I3 which extend from the side wall inwardly in spaced and in overlapping relation, to provide a series of compartments I4, so that the exhaust gases are deilected to and fro around the inner ends of said baiTle plates and through the series of compartments, from the head end I5 to the rearward end I6 of the main chamber, thereby alternately expanding and reconcentrating the flow of gases for better extracting theheat therefrom. A jacket or casing Il is mounted around the main chamber to provide an insulating air chamber I8 around the same.

As indicated in Fig. 2, a series of pipes 20 are curved to and fro around the inner ends of the baffle plates to extend through the successive compartments lli, from one endY of the main chamber to the other, being mounted in the head 101 or front wall i5, opening into the interior of the superheating chamber I2.

rIfhe preheater VII includes an inner conduit or tube 2i which extends laterally from the side wall, adjacent one end of the main chamber, and 15' has an outer rearwardly extending elbow `22 discharging the exhaust gases from the main chamber. A casing v2?is mounted in spaced relation around saidtube to provide an insulating air chamber 2llraround the same, said chamber 24 be- `20 ing in open communicationrwith auxiliary chamber I8, thus more completely preventing heat from the exhaust gases from being dissipated out of the vpreheating chamber as well as out of the main chamber. A conduit or pipe 25, for con- 25 veying compressed air, extends through chamber 24 into tube il! of the preheater, and is surrounded by said tube which serves as a heating chamber inv which the air is heated which passes through said pipe. This pipe 25 is connected 30 through a coupling member 26 to the series of pipes 28, as best indicated in Fig. 2, for conducting the compressed air through the preheater and throughthe main heating chamber, into the superheater. l `35 The superheater I2 is preferably arrangedsubstantially funnel-shaped having its broad Yrear portion connected to head I5, and the contracted front end connected to a pipe 2l, for conveying the superheated compressed air to a motor or de- 4o vice `to be utilized as desired.

This heat interchanger is especially adapted to be used in connection with an internal combustion engine, as indicated by engine 3D, and the superheater preferably extends the length of 45 the engine, being connected to the engine casing by bracket attaching means 3|, in such a manner as to provide an air chamber 32 therebetween, to avoid excessively heating that side of the engine. A tube 33 extends substantially the length of the 50 superheater, and has branches 34 extending therefrom and connected with the several exhaust ports of the eng/ine; while the rear end of tube 33 is connected to head I5, and through an opening 35 therein communicates with compart- 55 ments I 4 in the main heating chamber, so as to convey the heated exhaust gases from the engine through the superheater and through the successive compartments of the main chamber then through tube 2| and out through its discharge port 22 into the atmosphere.

All parts of the interchanger exposed to the surrounding atmosphere are properly insulated, as indicated by the insulating coats or covering 31, 38, and.39 mounted respectively around the superheating and the main and the preheating charnbers of the device.

The materials used in constructing these inner compartments of the device possess the highest coeicient of heat conductivity consistent with the strength required to resist the pressure of the highly compressed air. The air and heat travelin counterflow or in opposite directions,` and by this arrangement the greatest transfer of heat from` the exhaust gases into the compressed air takes place in thesuperheater, as the air which leaves pipes.2{J expands asV it enters the larger end of the superheater, there receiving its nal and highly expansive heat energy, then being contracted in the narrower end to. increase the v pressure and speed or rate of flow thereto as it enters tube 21, for application and use thereafter.

By this device the maximum amount of heat is extracted from the exhaust gases, which are thenV discharged to the atmosphere as a cooled and,dead,vapor with onlyl suicient p-ressure to expel it. Thereby it overcomes most or all of the harmfuLdangerous and obnoxious effects, such as noise, bad odor, poison or fire hazards, and no muiliersor silencers are required.

I claim:

A heat` interchanger including a superheatingl chamber and means for connecting it to an engine,M a preheating chamber and a main chamber operatively connecting it with the superheating chamber, conduitv means for conducting the-compressed air through the preheating and main-r heating chambers into the superheating chamber, conduit means extending through the superheating chamber and having branch means extending to the engine for conducting the hot exhaust gases from the engine through the superheating chamber wherefrom it flows through the main` andpreheating chambers, in counterow over the; compressed air 'conduit therein, and means for providing an insulating air chamber around the main chamber. k

2. A heat interchanger and means for connecting it to an. internal combustion engine, said interchanger comprising a main chamber including a series' of baille Aplates which are spaced and overlappin'ga't their inner edges to deect gases to and frofthro'ugh said chamber, av superheating charnber onv the main chamber and being connected to the engine, a conduit extending through the superheating chamber tothe main chamber and having branchconduits for conducting exhaust gases from lthe engine, and conduit means curved around the inner ends of thefbae plates for conducting air through` the main chamber to the superheating chamber in counterflow to the flow of gases, thereby heating to a high degree the compressedair flowing through the device.

`3. A heat interchanger comprising a ymain chamber and a 'funnel-shaped superheating chamber having'its larger end connected to one end thereof, means forconnecting the superheating chamber to an engine, conduit means extending the length of the superheating chamber to empty into the main chamber and having branch conduits thereon for conducting exhaust gases from the engine, and conduit means extending through said main chamber for conducting air therethrough to flow into and expand and be superheated in the superheating chamber in counterow to the iiow of gases.

4. A heat .interchanger adapted for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine and with compressed air conducting means, said interchanger comprising a main chamber having a series of baflie plates extending from the side wall inwardly in spaced and overlapping relation at their inner ends to deflect gases to and fro therethrough, there being a preheating chamber at one end anda. funnel-shaped superheating chamber at the other end with the larger part thereof connected to the head of said end, means for connectinggthe superheating chamber to the engine toy provide an air chamber between the two, an air conduit extending through the preheater, a plurality of curved conduit means extending to and fro along` the saidbale plates from the rear wall to the front wall of the main chamber, said means being connected to said air conduit, an exhaust tube in the superheating chamber adapted to discharge into the main chamber and having branch tubes receiving the hot exhaust gases from the engine, whereby the exhaust gases pass in counterrlow over the air conveying means through the mainland the preheating chambers, and casing means ,providing an insulating air chamber around, themain and the preheating chambers.

5. A heat interchanger for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising a main heat interchanging portion having a super-heater thereon, bracket attaching means for connecting thel super-heaterA tov the internal combustion engineLin spaced relation thereto to provide an insulating` air. space therebetween to avoid excessive heating of the engine, means for conducting' ani through, said main portion to the superheatenand conduit means inthe super-heater to be. connected with the exhaust means of the eng'ineforconducting exhaust gases from the engine through said super-heater to the main portion, inw heat interchanging relation and in counterflow to the flow of said air through the device.

6. A heat interchanger adapted for use with an internal combustion engine, comprising aY main chamber having overlapping members therein also having a preheating chamber adjacent one end and a superheating chamber at the other,

bracket attaching means for connecting the superheater to the Vinternal combustion engine in spaced relation thereto to provide an insulating air space therebetween to avoid excessive heating. of4 the engine, means for conducting com- PIETRO MANISCALCO. 

